I just got back from seeing “A Complete Unknown” and I enjoyed the film. It dawned on me that I do not own any of his albums. When I hear him on the radio I never change the station or turn it off I just never went out of my way to explore his catalogue. And none of my friends ever listened either.
So which 3-5 albums should I get to get a solid taste. Also, I’m not a greatest hits kind of guy. I prefer an album the way it was recorded or a very good live album. A picture in time.
Thanks folks.
In no particular order: John Wesley Harding, Blood on The Tracks and Desire.
Great film, we loved it.
C.
Hmm Not a Bob Dylan recorded album? I did not see that coming. thanks for reply.
I bought a triple cd ages ago;
Highway 61 revisited
Blonde on blonde
Bringing it all back home
Let’s say six to get a full picture-two from the 60s
Another side about Dylan, Blonde on blonde
One from the 70s
Blood on the tracks
One from the 80s
Infidels
One from the 90s.
Time out of mind (best listened to as remixed version on Fragments)
One from the 00s
Modern Times.
Go in chronological order, I think you will appreciate modern times better having listened to the other five I’ve recommended.
To be honest, 10 is probably an absolute minimum but those six will give you a good indication
.sjb
“Time Out of Mind” was going to be a yes before I started this thread. Well, Daniel Lanois of course.
Good luck with that, @Sloop_John_B. My suggestion of three LPs produced a baffling response.
I feel stupid now. I did not know thst JWH was the name of a Dylan album. HAHA I was thinking that the British singer songwriter of the same name must have done a cover album of Dylan songs. So a big NEVERMIND! Sorry for dumbness.
Bringing it all back home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde.
Nice choices. I would substitute “Freewheelin’” for “Another Side” to get the full early folkie flavor.
To continue the flavour of the movie: Freewheelin’ & Bringing It All Back Home.
Absolutely essential: Highway 61 Revisited & Blonde On Blonde.
But really, you also need Blood On The Tracks & Time Out Of Mind.
And all the others.
Print Bob Dylan’s list of recordings from Wikipedia or any other place.
Carefully use scissors to get one album in one piece of paper, fold in similar shapes.
Put all in a bag, agitate to mix, extract 3-5 pieces of paper. Let us know the result please.
Freewheelin Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde
But you also need Bob Dylan Unplugged, Highway 61 Revisited and Time out of Mind
Some good albums listed, but I also would add Nashville Skyline, a lovely album with slightly different vibe with joint production with Johnny Cash, and the superb Bob/Johnny duet, Girl from the North Country. It represents an interesting alternate side of Bob Dylan that he was keen to explore. Not least the two had a great friendship and inspired each other and you hear those blues/country rhythm influences in much of this album.
Perhaps not in your first three BD albums… but in your top half a dozen.
Another Side Of - moving away from folk and blues into a new lyrical world but not yet electric.
Blonde On Blonde - peak 60s Dylan. I’d avoid both John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline as ways in. They are not representative of anything.
Blood On The Tracks - peak 70s Dylan.
Desire - different kind of 70s peak but just great.
Time Out Of Mind - original or Fragments version. Both are great.
Rough And Rowdy Ways - recent Dylan.
If these don’t hook you then nothing will. They are not necessarily my faves but they are the way in.
If they do, then going deeper basically means starting with all the 60s albums in order. Leaving out many 70s albums with good songs but terrible arrangements e,g. Planet Waves, most of the religious period. Ignore all live albums. Eventually you’ll hit the alternative magnificent universe of the Bootleg Series.
I would add Bob Dylan Live At The Boudikan , just for the spread of material
Listen to them on Qobuz or another streaming service, decide which you like most and then buy the 3 that are your favourites.
I would buy the Mono Box set of his 1st 8 albums, sounds fantastic in any format. After you listened to all these the Bootleg series is really worth investigating, his demos, outtakes etc can be as good as he’s studio work.
I absolutely second the opinion on Rough And Rowdy Ways, it is definitely a masterpiece together with blood on the tracks bootleg edition.
I would add the live at budokan
